Thibaut Courtois DENIES Domenico Tedesco’s claims he refused to play Estonia due to a captaincy spat

Thibaut Courtois has hit back at Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco, claiming he has withdrawn from squad for Tuesday’s European Championship qualifier in Estonia due to a knee injury.

Earlier, Tedesco insisted the Real Madrid goalkeeper had refused to travel to the game because he was “insulted” at being overlooked for the captaincy against Austria on Saturday.

Tedesco claimed Courtois told him after the Austria game he was going home, and dismissed rumors of a medical problem by saying at a press conference: “I wish I could say it’s an injury but I can’t lie .’

However, Tedesco’s claims have infuriated Courtois, who issued a strongly worded statement on his personal website refuting the coach’s claims.

“This afternoon I was surprised to hear the coach’s press conference in which he gave a partial and subjective account of a private conversation we had after the game against Austria,” Courtois wrote.

“I want to make it clear that it is not the first or the last time that I talk to a coach about dressing room related matters, but that it is the first time that someone decides to say it publicly.

“I am very disappointed about this, but I want to make it clear that the coach’s estimates do not correspond to reality.”

Along with Romelu Lukaku, Courtois is one of two vice-captains for Belgium, and it was Lukaku who was signed to wear the armband against Austria in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, despite Courtois celebrating his 100th international match.

Courtois added: “I insist that I have not demanded anything under any circumstances and that I have spoken to my team-mate Romelu Lukaku to clarify all the circumstances regarding this situation.

‘Furthermore, I had a check-up yesterday afternoon because of a problem with my right knee. My club’s medical team and the national team have been in touch and have reviewed all the related material to make the decision to leave the training camp.’